A seven-year-old boy in French Polynesia has died of dengue - the territory's first fatality from the mosquito-borne disease this year.
Photo: 123RF
Health authorities say the boy was bitten by a mosquito while he was on holiday on Moorea.
They say he suffered shock and was transferred to the hospital in Tahiti where he died on 21 July.
In the second half of July, 25 cases were recorded across five of French Polynesias main islands.
Half of those infected were children under the age of 15.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community is closely monitoring dengue outbreaks around the Pacific.
Health authorities in French Polynesia say type-2 dengue no longer poses a threat to the community.
Health authorities in French Polynesia say despite it being the dry season, dengue has continued to spread, with 49 more people being infected in the last week of August.
Scientists in French Polynesia say an experiment to control mosquito populations is proving to be very successful, and could change the prevention of mosquito-borne illness.
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